In 1994, an international workshop and symposium: Conservation of Migratory Waterbirds
and Their Wetland Habitats in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway was held at Kushiro,
Japan, co-sponsored by Environment Agency of Japan and Australian Nature Conservation
Agency (now Environment Australia). 100 participants from 17 countries attended. The
outcome of the workshop was the “Kushiro Initiative” which recommended the:
1. Establishment of international approach to cooperate for migratory waterbird
conservation through out the Asia-Pacific region
2. Development of habitat networks on the flyway for each migratory waterbird group
To implement this initiative, the Asia-Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy:
1996-2000 (hereafter, strategy 1996-2000) was developed. In 1996, at the CoP 6 of the
Ramsar Convention, the “Brisbane Initiative”, encouraged Contracting Parties in the
region to implement the Strategy and the Shorebird Network was launched.

Major achievements of the Strategy have been , the launch of the Crane Network in 1997 at
Beidaihe, China, and the Anatidae Network in 1999 at San Jose, Costa Rica, during the CoP
7 of the Ramsar Convention.

The CoP7 called (Recommendation 7.3) for greater multilateral cooperation on the
conservation of migratory waterbirds in the Asia-Pacific region The recommendation was
sponsored by Australia and Japan, and strongly supported by the United States, Russia,
China and other countries. The recommendation encourages the Contacting Parties to
extend their support to the Strategy and to consider the development of a multilateral
agreement or other arrangement, to provide for the long-term conservation framework for
migratory waterbirds and their habitats.

To implement this recommendation, an international workshop is required to consider the
second stage of the Strategy before the end of implementation period of the Strategy:
1996-2000.

Conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats (largely wetlands) in the Asia
Pacific region is promoted through the Asia Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation
Strategy: 1996-2000. The Strategy, an international cooperative initiative, is supported
by the governments of Japan and Australia and coordinated by Wetlands International. The
enclosed Fact Sheet provides an overview of some of the major achievements of the last
five years.

Implementation of the Strategy for migratory waterbirds has also had positive benefits
for resident birds and other wetland species, due to the greater awareness of the
importance of conserving migratory waterbirds, and has resulted in the improved
management of some important wetlands. Thus migratory waterbirds have proved to be an
important flagship group that can serve to unite people across the region to conserve
wetlands and their biodiversity.

Based on the successes of the Strategy during the last five years, a second Strategy:
2001-2005 and three species Action Plans (Anatidae, cranes and shorebirds) are currently
being prepared to provide an international framework to further promote the conservation
of migratory waterbirds and their wetland habitats in the Asia-Pacific into the 21st
century. In order to consolidate and expand the support for the Strategy throughout the
region, it is important for the above four documents to reflect regional priorities. To
ensure this, we are seeking wide review and constructive comment by governments and
others organisations in the region with an interest in migratory waterbird conservation.
The documents will be sent to you in the near future and invite your comments.

An international workshop will be held in Naha City and Tomigusuku Village, Okinawa
Prefecture, Japan between October 16 – 19, 2000, to review the achievements of the Asia
Pacific Migratory Waterbird Conservation Strategy: 1996-2000 and finalise the Strategy
2001-2005 and Action Plans. The workshop is being organised by the Environment Agency of
Japan, Environment Australia and Wetlands International co-sponsored by the Okinawa Manko
Workshop Steering Committee. An advance notice for the Workshop and tentative programme
is enclosed for your information. We would appreciate your participation to the Workshop.
Even if you are unable to attend the workshop, your comments on the draft Strategy and
Action Plans are very welcomed as would an indication of support for the Strategy.

To facilitate planning of the workshop, it would be appreciated if you could indicate
your attendance, or otherwise, by returning the attached Reply Form by Facsimile before
31 August 2000.